announced, and they all went into another large and beautiful room,
where they were served with a perfect meal. The conversation at table
was general, and in English, but presently it drifted into a debate
which Godfrey did not understand, on the increase of spirituality
among the "initiated" of the earth.

Colonel Josiah Smith, who appeared to associate with remarkable
persons whom he called "Masters," who dwelt in the remote places of
the world, alleged that such increase was great, which Professor
Petersen, who dwelt much among German intellectuals, denied. It
appeared that these "intellectuals" were busy in turning their backs
on every form of spirituality.

"Ah!" said Miss Ogilvy, with a sigh, "they seek the company of their
kindred 'Elementals,' although they do not know it, and soon those
Elementals will have the mastery of them and break them to pieces, as
the lions did the maligners of Daniel."

In after years Godfrey always remembered this as a very remarkable
prophecy, but at the time, not knowing what an Elemental might be, he
only marvelled.

At length Madame Riennes, who, it seemed, was half French and half
Russian, intervened in a slow, heavy voice:

"What does it matter, friends of my soul?" she asked. Then having
paused to drink off a full glass of sparkling Moselle, she went on:
"Soon we shall be where the spirituality, or otherwise, of this little
world matters nothing to us. Who will be the first to learn the
truths, I wonder?" and she stared in turn at the faces of every one of